Commencing on 7/1/2026, allows members, state and municipal employees to retire when they have at least 28 years of active service and their retirement age, when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number 85.

Rhode Island Teacher Retirement Bill Summary

This bill would change the retirement rules for Rhode Island teachers, as well as state and municipal employees, starting July 1, 2026. Under the new rules, eligible workers could retire when two conditions are both met: they have completed at least 28 years of active service, and their age plus their years of service add up to at least 85. For example, a teacher who is 57 years old with 28 years of service would qualify, since 57 + 28 = 85.

This is commonly known as the "Rule of 85" and is used in many states as a way to determine retirement eligibility. It gives workers some flexibility in *when* they can retire, since there are different combinations of age and years of service that can reach the number 85 — as long as the minimum 28-year service requirement is also satisfied. A worker with more years of service could potentially retire at a younger age, while someone who started their career later might need to work longer.

The bill primarily affects teachers, school employees, and other public workers covered under Rhode Island's retirement system. For those employees, it could open up an earlier path to retirement compared to current rules. For the state and municipalities, it could have budget implications related to pension costs and workforce planning, though the bill itself does not address those financial details.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where lawmakers will review it before deciding whether to advance it further.